Second case of measles confirmed

Young child diagnosed two weeks after notice that RPI student had it

By BRYAN FITZGERALD Special to the Times Union

Updated 1:12 pm, Tuesday, May 31, 2011

TROY -- Two weeks after the state Department of Health issued an advisory about a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute student who contracted measles, the department has confirmed a second case of the rare respiratory infection, this time in a young child.

The department said Monday it would not disclose the identity or gender of the child. Officials are looking into the possibility that the child was at the emergency room at the same time as an RPI student who was diagnosed with measles earlier this month.

According to the department, anyone who was at any of the following places where the young child recently was and is not immune to measles should contact their local health department to determine if they are a candidate to receive preventive treatment:

More Information

Seton Health (St. Mary's) Emergency Department on May 26 from 5 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. or May 27 from 9 p.m. to May 28 at 1 a.m.

Measles is a highly contagious infection caused by a virus. Children under the age of 1, women who are pregnant and those with compromised immune systems are at the highest risk of contracting measles.